ARTICLE: Indonesian labor movement stirs by Max Lane

Workers at an assembly point at Day 2 of strike.

Widespread strikes and worker protests took place in many Indonesian town and cities on 31 October and 1 November. On the first day of the strike, the Indonesian police stated that they had noted actions in 50 towns and cities in 15 provinces.

The protesters had three main demands: a 50 percent increase in the minimum wage, an end to all illegal labour hire (“outsourcing”) and a social insurance scheme for all Indonesians.

The actions were organised by a coalition called the Labour Movement National Consolidation (KNGB), formed three weeks before the strike. The KNGB comprised the Confederation of Indonesian Trade Unions (KSPI), the Workers Joint Secretariat (Sekber Buruh), National Trade Union Confederation (KSN) and several other union federations and regional alliances. The KSPI includes the Metalworkers Trade Unions Federation (FSPMI), which has been at the heart of many major actions over the last three years.